Warwick Farm will play host to its biggest day on the racing calendar and the inaugural running of the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1200m).
The Inglis Millennium has become the fourth two-year-old race in Australia to offer more than $1 million in prize money and some of the country’s most exciting juveniles have been confirmed in the field of fifteen.
Another two-year-old race, the Listed Lonhro Plate (1100m) will officially launch Inglis Millennium Day at 12:50pm AEDT, while the feature is slated for 4:30pm.
Eight two-year-olds have accepted into the Lonhro Plate field and of those horses, three are on debut.
A brother to Golden Slipper and multiple Group 1 champion She Will Reign, Time To Reign will resume in this race and has opened the clear $1.70 favourite in betting. He was utterly dominant in his first two competitive appearances and will probably win this, but he’s too short for me and I’m happy to watch.
This week’s Highway race is set to be contested at 1200m and has drawn eleven country sprinters.
Noble Boy has recorded three wins from as many starts so far and looks the one to beat in this race. The son of Bon Hoffa was impressive to the line when he scored a near two-length win over 1200m at Rosehill last time out and a repeat of that performance would see him winning again. There’s still some meat on the bone at $2.15, but I wouldn’t want him a lot shorter.
A pretty open field of nine sprinters has been taken for this Benchmark 94 and a case to be made for several in the market. The Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet has opened $3.90 favourite from She Knows ($5.50 into $5) and Godolphin entrant Badajoz ($5.50).
I’m happy to have something each-way on resuming sprinter Super Too here at his current quote ($6.50). The talented sprinter didn’t find his best form last time in, but he’s capable of a massive performance fresh and the 1000m is ideal.
A small but decent field of three-year-old sprinters and the first look that we’ll get at a few Randwick Guineas prospects this time in.
The undefeated Brutal ($2.05) has not been seen at the races since Flemington, but he is clearly up to winning a race of this calibre and recorded a dominant five-length win in his only other first-up showing. He will need to show a bit of early speed from a wide draw but with even luck, should be fighting out the finish.
Trainer Brad Widdup elected to scratch Sandbar from the Rubiton Stakes field in Melbourne to run in this race and there’s already been plenty of interest for the horse in betting; firming $4.80 into $4.40 at publish. The Snitzel colt is yet to taste anything but success first-up and has trialled well leading into this race. Happy to follow the money in this one.
The three-year-old feature race has understandably drawn a capacity field and several outstanding horses will seek their share in a $1 million purse.
Golden Slipper winner Estijaab missed the spring through injury, but she will launch her 2019 campaign in this race and remains prominent in betting ($3.60). The Snitzel filly has recorded three wins from her four career starts and has had the benefit of a trial.
The Chris Waller-trained Fiesta ($3.50) is a proven first-up performer and is drawn ideally in barrier 6. The I Am Invincible filly won the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first-up in spring and placed second in each of her next three starts, including a Group 1 race. She can go straight to the lead on Saturday and will give them something to chase.
This race used to be the main feature and the nine mares that remain in contention make up a decent Breeders’ Classic field. Champagne Cuddles is the $2.35 favourite from Egyptian Symbol ($5) and Alassio ($5.50).
She hasn’t been seen at the races since last autumn, but the resuming White Moss typically runs well fresh and is good enough to fight out the finish of this race. The Mossman mare resumed in April last year for third in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes and she’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading into this race.
The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Cosmic Force has been scratched and fourteen two-year-olds remain in contention to win the inaugural Inglis Millennium. Obviously, plenty can go on in a race filled with inexperienced two-year-olds, but on exposed form it does look a race in two between Accession ($2.80) and Dawn Passage ($3.10).
Accession debuted with a credible performance for second behind Athiri at Rosehill in December and has continued to improve with racing; breaking his maiden with ease second-up before recording a five-length win over 1100m at Rosehill last time out. He should only improve into this race and has the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle on Saturday.
Dawn Passage has only made one appearance at the races so far, but he was a dominant winner over 1000m at Randwick and will take plenty of improvement from the experience. He’s drawn well in barrier 7 and with even luck, will be fighting out the finish.
This looks like being a decent mile race and several proven black type performers have been confirmed for a start.
Tangled ($3.60) resumed with a tough performance for third in the Listed Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Randwick a fortnight ago and will relish a step up to 1600m. The Snitzel gelding is several times placed at Group 1 level and can settle in behind the early pace this weekend before calling on his smart turn of foot.
Sondelon has opened as and remained a warm favourite to win the last on Inglis Millennium Day and has plenty of appeal at $3.20. The Lonhro gelding took up the running at Randwick first-up and was only headed in the final 100m before finishing third. Tim Clark can employ similar tactics this week and the horse will be far better second-up.
Victorian raider Honey Esprit has been in great form this time and could prove to be the value at her current quote ($10 at publish). The Bel Esprit mare was an easy winner at Pakenham last time out and is rock-hard fit for this race.